As Hamel (2021) explains, it is important to recognize that leadership has an effect on followers, as well as the followers having an effect on the leaders. This interaction means a lot in the grand picture of the leadership process. Current studies analyzing LMX researches how the relationship between followers and leaders has a correlation with organizational effectiveness. Members who have a positive relationship with their leaders are reported to have a better work performance and attitude overall (Hamel, 2021). This relationship reveals the benefits of having a positive reciprocal relationship. Northouse (2013) highlights the fact that Leader-Member Exchange both describes and prescribes leadership. This means that this theory explains how leadership is supposed to go in terms of the relationship between members and followers and also specifies what to expect. It makes a lot of sense of me that there is a leadership theory that considers the relationship between followers and members.
In my own life, I have seen the Leader-Member Exchange theory occur. Though considered slightly outdated, the idea of in-groups and out-groups make sense in regards to work performance and attitude. Someone who has a better relationship with their leader, compared to someone who doesn’t have that good relationship, probably works harder and enjoys their workplace more. I worked at a gymnastics place where there were two sides of employees. One half of the employees worked with older children and the other worked with younger children. The side who worked with younger children was considered the out-group, they did not really have much of a relationship with one another and they came in, did their job, and left. The other side who worked with older, more advanced kids was considered the in-group. That side of the gym always hung out outside of work and had parties together on the weekends. They all worked together extremely well together and they had great work performance. This example from my life proved to me that leader-member exchange is important in the grand scheme of the work environment. Employees who have closer bonds with their leaders have greater work performance because they genuinely enjoy coming to work to do their job.
Now thinking about this theory in a different example, I immediately thought of the Office because its whole plot is basically about what goes on in their workplace. There is a sort of in-group and out-group example in this show with the cast. The in-group, in my opinion, is Pam and Jim just because they have a great relationship with Michael Scott, their boss. They are always seen joking around and being friendly with one another. They both also have great work performances, as Jim has one of the office’s top numbers for sales. This can be compared to the out-group, who in my opinion is Ryan. Ryan legit wants nothing to do with Michael Scott and has no interest in being friendly in return to him. Ryan comes to work to do his job and leaves after. This is an example of leader-member exchange because it is evident that a positive relationship between a leader and a member can improve work performance and attitude in the workplace.
References:
Hamel, R. (n.d.). Lesson 8: Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX), 2021
Northouse, P.G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
I really like both your examples from your workplace and The Office in comparing in-groups and out-groups! I think The Office was a great example of this especially because a lot of people have seen it and can potentially get a better understanding of the two different groups from this analysis. I agree that Jim and Pam are part of the in-group, however I think that Dwight would be the best choice in describing the in-group. Dwight is always going above and beyond what is needed of him trying to get the attention of Michael Scott. He is definitely an overachiever and strives to be the “best” worker in The Office. I do agree though that Ryan is part of the out-group. He is usually not in a great mood, just wanting to do his work and leave. He also rarely participates in activities outside of the workplace with his colleagues. I really enjoyed this comparison and think you did an excellent job!
Hi!
I really enjoyed reading your post and how you connected the class concepts to such a good show, The Office. I too wrote my blog post on The Office so it was interesting to see what characters you chose to talk about as well as which group you saw them in. In my post, I chose to analyze Stanley and Dwight so I liked seeing where you placed Jim, Pam, and Ryan. I agree that Jim and Pam would be in the in-group due to the great relationship they have with Michael; however, I do not see them going above and beyond for the company or wanting to be associated with Dunder Mifflin. As for Ryan being a part of the out-group I completely agree because he wants nothing to do with his boss, does not want to be associated with the company, and simply does whatever his job is and leaves. Overall, I think you did a good job of determining which characters were part of the in-group vs. the out-group based on work habits and relationship with Michael, the boss.
Hi! I loved that you referenced The Office as an example for what we’ve been learning in class! I also love watching The Office and find myself thinking about different episodes or characters when reading through the material for this class. The show has so many good examples to pull from of leader and follower relationships. I definitely agree that the in-group is Jim and Pam, but I would also argue that Dwight would be considered in the in-group as well, since he loves to work and is obsessed with being good friends with Micheal, and advancing his role at the company. I also agree that Ryan is part of the out-group, but an even better example of this would be Toby and Kelly since they are separated from the rest of their co-workers in the annex. Micheal has always had it out for Toby and makes his distaste for him very clear. As for Kelly, she seems to be the office gossip and never stops talking which I believe iterates many of the workers in the show. Overall, I love trying to apply our class lessons to The Office whenever I can!